73 MY 914S Build Date Question, ...is it August or Sept 1972?? Options

[Tom_T]

Okay folks,

I've owned my early-73 MY 914-2.0 (914S for Pat G. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), and I looked at the VIN label on the driver's door jamb, but the build date could either be an "8" but missing one of the "punch-dots" in the left side of the lower loop, or a "9" with an "extra dot" (& don't ask about the COA - no help there).

... so which is it ???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I'm also aware of another 73 MY VIN 01102 built 9/72, & another on here VIN 01654 built 8/72 IIRC - & both are earlier VINs than mine - so did they build VINs out of date order?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

My VIN Door Jamb Label:



... and here's my project to restore - finally outside last Sunday before the "monsoon" hit!






... Lotsa work for me to do, to say the least!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[davep]

The HC recall campaign to replace incorrect label dated 9/75 with labels dated 9/74 suggests that errors in the compliance decals did happen. It could be that the 08/72 beyond 1400 should have been 09/72. The month transition in 1971 & 1972 was about 0300 and in 1974 about 1600. The reality of the chassis numbers says that 08/72 is highly suspect on these cars.

[Tom_T]

The HC recall campaign to replace incorrect label dated 9/75 with labels dated 9/74 suggests that errors in the compliance decals did happen. It could be that the 08/72 beyond 1400 should have been 09/72. The month transition in 1971 & 1972 was about 0300 and in 1974 about 1600. The reality of the chassis numbers says that 08/72 is highly suspect on these cars.

Dave, I don't know the chassis no. on 4732901650 also built in 8/72, but maybe Murray?ME733 can weigh in on that? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

It might also help to have you post a pic of your list here, on the ones to which you're referring, to see if there is any enlightenment there.

Also remember that the 1973 MY was the largest production & sales numbers year for the 914 - as well as Porsche+Audi USA having a huge pent=up demand such that they diverted 2.0Ls on the final assembly line to US specs & delayed the 2.0's availabilityin Euro-land - so it would be expected that there could be more produced in the first production month of Aug. 72 for the 73 MY.

We now know from your lists & Jeff Bowlsby's LE Registry list & Sir Andy's explanations above, that the VIN's were NOT produced in order, nor apparently were chassis nos., due to varying demand for certain colors.

You'll note on the VIN sticker on mine, that it was over-painted with the bronze/Gold color which it was when I purchased it in Dec 1975 (& as advertised during the Fall of 75), which was a repaint/color change either by the PO/originalowner or dealer or latter at former's request. I'm the 2nd owner with continuous title since Dec. 1975, so I know that the sticker wasn't changed during my tenure (although painted over with both of my 8/76 & 5/80 color changes). Moreover, there is only the L80E Light Ivory under the one corner of it which I'd peeled back to check.

More likely & more logical than being an erroneous VIN sticker build date per se, is that they used the date when the shell was built by Karmann & stamped on 8/31/72 - then paint, shipping & final assembly probably actually took place during early Sept. 72 - but they ignored that & used 8/72 from the Chassis No. for the Build Date on the VIN sticker (or did so by policy??), with it thereafter shipped to the USA/California (IIRC it was about 30-60 days from the factory to the West Coast POE), & then first sold here in CA on 11/9/72 (according to my 1st & all subsequent CA registration cards) to the folks from whom I purchased it about 3 years later.

Murray's & Sir Andy's & your comments here & elsewhere about completed & painted shells being built out of numerical order based on customer/distributor demand probably explains why the Signal Orange 4732901102 & your examples above were built.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Maybe mine having been date stamped by Karmann on the last day of the month & the VIN/Build Date door sticker, perhaps sheds light that VW's final assembly plant actually based the latter sticker's build date on the chassis # rather than the final assembly completion & test drive date - or at least that they occasionally used the chassis date for the VIN sticker. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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